The Mariner’s Children are a 7 piece alt-folk band who’ve been a long time in the making. Not ones to rush the pursuit of discovering & defining their sound, their time has been spent evolving and experimenting through an ever-increasing lineup- all the time honing their skills to create something that is rooted in their individual and collective musical loves, and upon which they’ve built a sound that is unique and identifiably their own. Their sound draws on their influences and sees an alliance with the immense instrumentation of Arcade Fire, yet not set apart from the subtleties of the likes of Iron & Wine and Bonnie Prince Billy.
The band began life in Brighton, where Benedict Rubinstein and Daniel Matthews shared a house and spent most of their time bonding over Bert Jansch and Pentangle records. Through time, different musicians were slowly brought into the fold. As of only a few months ago, the final lineup was set – including a mix of musicians from friends’ bands Peggy Sue (Broken Sound/Wichita), Sons of Noel and Adrian (Willkommen Collective) and Alessi’s Ark (Bella Union).
The Mariner’s Children have recently finished recording their debut EP ‘New Moore Island’ (out November 1st 2010). Recorded at 2kHz Studios - a converted church - and produced by Ian Grimble (Communion, The Manic Street Preachers, Beth Orton, McAlmot & Butler). The songs drift from sparse, delicate understatement to thunderous intensity in the blink of an eye. Lyrically, Benedict Rubinstein artfully creates incredible confessional tales, often with an underlying darkness. “There’s no more coal for the fire my love, but I’ll gladly burn myself” (Coal).
It’s a rare thing to find a group of musicians who aren’t in a hurry to launch themselves into the public domain. The Mariner’s Children seem to have known what they wanted to create all along, and when it would be ready- New Moore Island is a perfect example of the good things that come to those who wait.
New Moore Island is available to pre-order now from our shop.
